Last Updated on September 20, 2023
Owning a dog comes with a lot of rewards, but it can also be a challenging undertaking. Training is a hugely important aspect of ownership, and it is crucial that you take the time early on in your dog’s life to implement and reward positive behaviors.
Proper socialization, an ability to interact with other animals and humans, and following house rules are all hugely important. It is also important to make sure your pet is properly toilet trained and set clear boundaries and expectations about where ablutions are expected to occur, and where they are not.
Many dog owners struggle with their dogs peeing on concrete, and this can be problematic for several reasons. Unlike grass, concrete is not absorbent, and any residue from your dog will simply sit on top of the surface until it is washed away. These stains are unpleasant for anyone who has to use the space. In addition, concrete surfaces tend to be places where you are likely to walk, such as driveways, playgrounds, and paths. If these are full of dog urine, they will become unpleasant to use, and potentially dangerous if they become slippery and unstable.
There are steps you can take to help prevent your dog from using concrete as a bathroom, and help them to develop positive toilet habits.
Clean the Area
Urine contains ammonia, which will attract the dog back to the same spot to do their business next time. To prevent this, you need to use an ammonia-free cleaner such as baking soda, bleach, or vinegar to remove the mess. Water alone may get rid of the physical particles, but your dog will still be able to smell the ammonia and will use this as a sign to return to the area.
Pick a New Spot
The next step is to pick a place where you would like to encourage your dog to pee. These should be far away from the concrete but close by to allow the dog to visit and use the area regularly. You can spray the ground with urine scent attractant. This smell will encourage the dog to do their business here until they become used to the spot. Always follow up with successful interaction with plenty of praise and treats to reinforce the behavior.
Emphasize the Grass
Get your dog used to grass when walking in a park, or through another grassy area. If there is a sidewalk, playground, or other concrete areas, your dog may attempt to head there to relieve themselves. You can use a no pull dog harness if your dog is a heavy puller and difficult to control during walks and always heads to the concrete area for urinating. No Pull Harness will give you more control over your dog and it would be easy to direct them to the grass. They will soon pick up that the grass is the new place to go for urinating.
Lots of Praise!
Praise is key in any aspect of training. Whenever your dog uses the grass or the new spot to do their business, make sure they are rewarded with plenty of cuddles, fuss, snacks, and treats. This will help to reinforce the desired behavior and make it a more appealing choice.
Check with a Vet
If the problem persists, it can be a good idea to get your dog checked out by your vet. Some dogs may have an underlying medical condition such as urinary tract infections, bladder disease, or kidney stones. If this is the case, they will have regular accidents despite the training, and this is not their fault.
